[Haptoglobin as an indicator for diseases during early lactation of dairy cows, with particular consideration of udder health]. / Haptoglobin als Indikator für Erkrankungen in der Frühlaktation von Milchkühen unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Eutergesundheit.

s an acute-phase protein Haptoglobin (HP) is part of the non-specific immune response and represents a strong indicator for inflammatory conditions in cattle. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of previous study results on serum and milk HP related to diseases in early lactation with special consideration of udder health. During inflammatory diseases of the reproductive tract, metabolism and musculoskeletal system, HP increases in the serum and may serve as a non-specific indicator for diseases during early lactation. Threshold values are available for the differentiation of healthy from diseased animals. A correlation exists between HP in blood and milk. The HP concentration in milk is not only influenced by systemic disorders, as the udder epithelium is also independently capable of synthesizing HP in case of an infection. In mastitis, HP concentration may be used to estimate the severity of the disease. In addition, HP may provide certain suspicions regarding the causative pathogen. Threshold values for milk HP are available for the differentiation of healthy individuals from subclinically resp. clinically affected animals.

[Use of milk haptoglobin concentration as an indicator in animal health monitoring of dairy cows]. / Nutzung der Haptoglobinkonzentration in Milch als Indikator für das Tiergesundheitsmonitoring bei Milchkühen.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to investigate relationships between elevated haptoglobin concentrations in milk and clinical as well as laboratory parameters in early lactating dairy cows. Furthermore, cut-off values should be identified for the differentiation of healthy and affected animals. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 1462 dairy cows between 5.-65. days in milk were examined on 68 Bavarian farms. Milk and blood samples were taken once a week for a 7-week period per farm and body-condition-scoring, backfat thickness measurement and Metricheck examination, to evaluate uterine health, were performed. Milk samples were analysed for milk fat, milk protein, lactose, urea, ß-hydroxybutyrate and non-esterified fatty acids (indirect measurement, based on IR spectra), cell count, and milk haptoglobin. Blood samples were analysed for creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, glutamate dehydrogenase, total protein, albumin, creatine kinase, ß-hydroxybutyrate, non-esterified fatty acids, and blood haptoglobin.Cluster analyses were performed to determine cut-off values for haptoglobin. RESULTS: Besides milk haptoglobin (µg/ml) and blood haptoglobin (µg/ml), cell count (cells/ml milk), milk fat (%), milk protein (%), non-esterified fatty acids in blood (mmol/l), lactation number, days in milk, breed, season, and milk yield (kg) were included as significant input variables (p<0.005) in the cluster analyses. Cluster analysis, using k-means resp. k-prototypes algorithms, resulted in 5 (clusters 1-5 M1) resp. 4 different clusters (clusters 0-3 M2 and 0-3 B).A cut-off value of 0.5 µg/ml haptoglobin in milk was determined for the differentiation of healthy and affected animals. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: As milk is an easily available substrate, routine determination of haptoglobin in milk might be a suitable parameter for animal health monitoring. Using the detected cut-off value, apparently healthy animals with subclinical inflammatory diseases can be identified more quickly.